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You are here: Home / About Beauty / Long Hair or Short Hair – Which Is Better on Men and Women?

Long Hair or Short Hair – Which Is Better on Men and Women?

by Aya Hajime 18 Comments

Hair length and hair styles may seem like a purely fashion issue. Sometimes long hair gets in style, sometimes short hair gets in style, so what? However, upon closer examination, we see that hair styles have played an important role in religion and politics.

In fact, what we consider to be attractive hair styles today, is strongly influenced by religious text and sometimes political context.

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” ~~[1 Corinthians 11:14-15]

Even today, it is much more socially acceptable for men to wear their hair short. Similarly, it is usually considered more attractive for women to keep their hair long. Short hair is commonly looked upon as a masculine trait, while long hair is considered a feminine trait.

Long Hair or Short Hair - Which Do You Prefer?
Long Hair or Short Hair - Which Do You Prefer?

Long Hair or Short Hair?

Long Hair or Short Hair?
Long Hair or Short Hair?

In my informal Attractive Women Survey –

  • Only 5% of respondents picked short hair as being attractive on women.
  • In contrast, a whopping 70% prefer long hair, out of over 5000 votes.

In my informal Attractive Men Survey –

  • Only 8% of respondents picked long hair as being attractive on men.
  • In contrast 48% prefer short hair, out of over 1000 votes.

These results are very much in line with the socially accepted norm that women should have long hair, and men should have short hair.

A 2008 poll reported by the Daily Mail also showed similar results, with 56% of men preferring long hair on women (43% prefer long and wavy hair, and 13% prefer long and straight hair). Only 22% of the the men picked a short hairstyle (e.g. classic bob, pixie crop, bowl cut).

A whopping 70% picked long hair as the female hair preference, out of over 5000 votes.
A whopping 70% picked long hair as the female hair preference, out of over 5000 votes.

Why Is Long Hair Attractive for Women?

Why Is Long Hair Attractive for Women?
Why Is Long Hair Attractive for Women?

More formal scientific studies also show that hair length is significantly correlated with female attractiveness, when rated by both men and women. Furthermore,

A significant correlation between hair length and age indicated that younger women tend to have longer hair than older women. Hair quality was correlated with women’s health. Consistent with the principle of intersexual selection, the results of this study indicate that hair length and quality can act as a cue to a woman’s youth and health and, as such, signify reproductive potential.

~~[Does women’s hair signal reproductive potential?]

 

Shiny, strong hair provides a cue to recent good health, developmental condition, and genotypic quality. Tellingly, long hair is often preferred across cultures, and long, lustrous hair is often associated with beauty (Etcoff, 1999).

~~[The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology by David M. Buss]

In short, long hair is often associated with beauty in women because it is highly correlated with youth, health, and reproductive potential.

Long hair is often associated with beauty in women because it is highly correlated with youth, health, and reproductive potential.
Long hair is often associated with beauty in women because it is highly correlated with youth, health, and reproductive potential.

Does Hair Matter?

It may be more politically correct to say that “hair does not matter” or that hair length and style is purely superficial.

However, this is clearly not true, as is shown by the scientific studies cited above. This is why hair care products are a multi-billion dollar business. Both men and women are willing to spend large amounts of money to regrow hair, style hair, and keep their hair looking shiny and healthy.

Healthy hair is often seen as a sign of youth, energy, and vitality. A person with a healthy, full head of hair can also appear more confident and successful.

Hair is also seen as a symbol of status and wealth. In the past, rich Roman women wore complex hairstyles that required a lot of labor to maintain. Today, wealthy women and celebrities often set the fashion for everyone else.

Healthy hair is often seen as a sign of youth, energy, and vitality.
Healthy hair is often seen as a sign of youth, energy, and vitality.

Hair and Social Identity

Hair and Social Identity
Hair and Social Identity

Hair length and style was often used as an indication of social identity and group membership. Hippies, for example, kept their hair long to challenge the prevailing gender differences of their time. Similarly, the flappers in the 1920s wore their hair short and bobbed, as a challenge against the more traditional roles of women.

Religions may also set rules as to how men and women should wear their hair. Much of what we consider to be socially acceptable hairstyles for men and women today, are likely influenced, in no small part, by these religious rules. Some religions may require a woman to cover her head and hair as a sign of modesty. Hair coverings, however, are not solely for women. Sikh men usually keep their hair uncut, tied in a bun, and covered with a turban.

Religions may also set rules as to how men and women should wear their hair.
Religions may also set rules as to how men and women should wear their hair.

Hair Length and Facial Features

Whether a particular hairstyle is attractive or not, depends to some degree on the shape of our face, and on our facial features.

However, a study by Bereczkei and Mesko also show the following –

The present study shows that the physical appearance of long-haired women was rated high, regardless, of whether their facial attractiveness was valued high or low.

~~[Bereczkei T., Mesko N. (2006) Hair length, facial attractiveness, personality attribution: a multiple fitness model of hairdressing. Review of Psychology 13: 1-60]

This study shows that long hair is a preferred feminine trait, irrespective of facial shape and features.

It is not surprising that long hair is a preferred feminine trait irrespective of facial shape and features.
It is not surprising that long hair is a preferred feminine trait irrespective of facial shape and features.

Long Hair or Short Hair?

The polls and scientific studies above show that long hair is a strong feature associated with feminine attractiveness. This is likely because long hair is associated with reproductive success.

The attractiveness of long hair on men is less clear since reproductive health issues are less relevant. As a result, hair length on men is more strongly influenced by political, cultural, religious, and economical factors.

Long hair or short hair on women - which do you think men prefer?
Long hair or short hair on women - which do you think men prefer?

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Comments

  1. rozy says

    August 23, 2016 at 6:40 am

    i have short hair when i cut it down it was very nice on me but now it is longer but it doesn’t reaches my shoulders it is too ugly on me but i think long hair is nice on me too perhaps for round faces long hair is better

    Reply
  2. Big Red says

    June 12, 2016 at 9:01 am

    I’m a man with long hair, and the hair has been an issue sometimes with women who otherwise really liked me i.e. became good friends instead. I think some guys can pull it off with the right combination of facial structure, head size, and hair style. I have kind of a large head to begin with, plus my hair tends to “puff out” a lot because it’s lightweight & curly/wavy. So maybe the combination doesn’t work for me.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    April 13, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    I think men or women have the same rights to have long hair I think that is bull shit that men can’t have long hair that would be saying women can’t have short hair

    Reply
  4. Krivik says

    March 29, 2016 at 4:29 pm

    I think it depends on the lady. I think Miley Cyrus looks better with long hair but I’ve seen women pull off short hair pretty well.

    I am a guy with long hair or, well, medium length (reaches my shoulders).

    The statistics don’t really bother me. I enjoy having long hair. I think that it suits me. I also think that that’s enough.

    Reply
  5. Coolstory says

    September 26, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    I have found if a women who has had long hair if they cut it short or get that buzzcutt style like mily sirus I just lose all attraction for them.. No idea why.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      December 13, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      Totally had that experience! I don’t know why tho?

  6. Anonymous says

    July 1, 2015 at 5:35 am

    Thick hair such as mine, alingveuth it’s wavyness it’s impossible to take care of. That’s why I cut it short. And I personally think that short hair gives a rebellious look
    to that person

    Reply
  7. sp says

    January 22, 2015 at 8:39 am

    I tend to like men that prefer short hair on women

    Reply
  8. Light says

    December 19, 2014 at 5:13 am

    Damn long hair sucks,I prefer a woman to have…..maybe kinda Emo look

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    October 27, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    I think men in general like long hair. But i think its dumb if thats what they are only looking for in a women. What about facial features? i would rather have a pretty face and nice amount of hair than an ugly face with long hair. I mean hair grows but pretty doesnt. If the study is accurate than men are dumb too only want that. Hair doesnt make a women more attractive.

    Reply
  10. Linda says

    November 3, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    Well what if you have baby fine hair like mine and cannot wear your hair longer than a chin length bob.

    I am married and always get enough attention from men.

    I think its about the whole package….

    Reply
  11. Dexter says

    April 15, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    i do vote for a long hair for a woman

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      November 3, 2014 at 7:07 am

      I do to

  12. eddiesmom says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    see i love short hair because i have such thick wavy hair and its really hard to maintain. but i feel like my face looks thinner when my hair is longer. but my hubby likes my hair longer he says that my hair is really nice and is a shame if i cut it all off lol. i think he just likes it for kinky purposes lol.

    Reply
  13. LisaRene Burt says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    I love my long hair…

    Reply
  14. sarovai says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Good research about long hair and short hair. Mostly women prefer long hair. I too vote for long hair. Thank u for sharing this hub.

    Reply
  15. sprobin says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Like Long Hair

    Reply
    • Samuel Andrew Murphy says

      April 13, 2016 at 5:51 pm

      Yes I think all that bull shit of men not having long hair is crap I think men have all the rights women do to grow long hair that would be saying women can’t have short hair

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